A 68-year-old Deltona woman was killed while she was walking her dog on a local sidewalk after a distracted driver left the roadway and struck her and her brother.
According to Volusia County Sheriff’s Office deputies, the fatal accident took place on Sunday, April 2, at around 12:40 p.m. in the 1100 block of East Normandy Boulevard.
Authorities say that a 67-year-old Deltona man was driving a 2011 BMW convertible on the roadway when he became distracted by a bag that fell between his legs. When the man reached down to pick up the bag, he swerved across the center line, through the opposite traffic lane, and onto the sidewalk.
The vehicle struck 67-year-old Eileen Flaherty and her brother, Robert, before coming to rest after striking a large rock in the front yard of a residence along East Normandy Boulevard.
Eileen Flaherty was pronounced deceased at the scene, while her 55-year-old brother was transported to a hospital in stable condition.
The driver of the BMW, who was not identified by police, was not injured and did not show obvious signs of impairment, according to police. A passenger in the vehicle was transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
The dog that the Flahertys were walking was unharmed in the incident.
The investigation is currently active, with charges pending.